EP3697480B1

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Info

Publication number: EP3697480B1
Application number: EP18785644.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jamieson Crawford
Original assignee: Becton Dickinson France SA
Current assignee: Becton Dickinson France SA
Priority date: 2017-10-18
Filing date: 2018-10-17
Publication date: 2024-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-17
Also published as: EP3697480A1; US11878155B2; US20200297939A1; ES2977604T3; CN111225701B; WO2019077008A1; EP3697480C0; CN111225701A

Description

The present relates to a passive needle safety device and an injection device, such as a prefilled syringe, comprising this passive needle safety device.
In this application, the distal end of a component or of a device is to be understood as meaning the end furthest from the user's hand and the proximal end is to be understood as meaning the end closest to the user's hand. Likewise, in this application, the "distal direction" is to be understood as meaning the direction of injection, with respect to the passive safety device or injection device of the invention, and the "proximal direction" is to be understood as meaning the opposite direction to said direction of injection, that is to say the direction towards the user's hand.
Injection devices, such as syringes, are usually furnished at their distal end with an injection needle that is designed to be inserted into the skin of a patient, and through which the product to be injected passes to an injection site. These syringes are usually furnished with a piston rod whose distal end comprises a piston which, during the injection phase and under the action of a distal pressure exerted by the user on the piston rod, pushes the product through the injection needle.
A usual problem presented by the injection devices equipped with a needle is the risk of accidental needle stick likely which may occur after the injection. In order to minimize this risk, it is known to furnish the syringes with a safety device which is intended to protect the needle after injection: this safety device may for example comprise a sleeve sliding relative to the syringe and required to cover the needle after the injection and the withdrawal of the needle from the injection site.
Some of these safety devices need to be activated by the user, that is to say that they require the user to undertake a specific action so as to be triggered and the needle thus be protected. In contrast to these active safety devices, some passive safety devices have been developed. A safety device is called passive when there is no need for a user to perform any action to ensure that the needle of the injection device is protected.
DocumentWO2011098831 discloses such a passive safety device. This passive safety device has the advantage of trying to avoid the so-called pop-off phenomenon during a sterilization process. This safety device comprises a soft rubber cover which is penetrated by the tip of the needle in order to prevent drug leakage. The safety device further includes a sleeve which is axially slidable between a needle protecting position and a non-protecting position. The proximal part of this sleeve is configured to deform radially outwardly so as to reach the non-protecting position. This deformation enables to store energy so that the proximal part of said sleeve acts as a spring urging the whole sleeve back to its initial protecting position once the needle is removed from the injection site.
However, the soft rubber cover needs to be removed and discarded before performing an injection.
Furthermore, in order to achieve an effective spring effect, the proximal part of the sleeve needs to be deformed at its greatest extent. This involves that the needle to be inserted a quite long distance into the injection site. This may be stressful or harmful for a user.
Besides, as noted above, the proximal part of the sleeve is configured to extend radially outwardly. This outward deformation renders the safety device quite radially cumbersome. Moreover, deformation of the sleeve is visible and may worry a user.
It should also be noted that the sleeve is likely made of a plastic material. However, plastic materials tend to lose their resiliently deformation abilities over time. After a long storage period, the fingers may thus lose some of their spring effect and the sleeve may thus not protect the needle as reliably as expected.
The documentDE102006041810 furthermore discloses a needle unit having a movable needle cover. The documentEP2635334 discloses a system for preventing leakage of a medicament and the documentEP2911724 discloses a pre-filled disposable injection device.
An aspect of the invention is a passive needle safety device which addresses the aforementioned drawbacks, that is to say a passive safety device which eliminates the need to remove and discard a needle plug or cover, which eliminates a pop-off effect during the sterilization process, and which is also compact, easy to use and to manufacture.
An aspect of the invention is a passive safety device comprising:

an inner needle shield having a proximal end, said proximal end being configured to be sealed to a tip of an injection device, a distal portion, said distal portion being configured to be pricked by a needle in a pre-use position of the passive safety device and pierced by the needle in an injection position of the passive safety device, and an energy storage portion configured to accumulate energy as the passive safety device passes from the pre-use position to the injection position and to release energy as the passive safety device passes from the injection position to a safety position,
a sleeve surrounding at least the proximal end of the inner needle shield;
an outer needle shield having a proximal end slidably attached to the sleeve so that the outer needle shield is movable relative to the sleeve,
locking means configured to lock the outer needle shield when the passive safety device reaches the safety position, and
wherein the inner needle shield is configured to move the outer needle shield distally as the energy storage portion releases its stored energy.

The passive safety device according to the invention consequently forms an integrated passive safety needle shield. Indeed, the safety device is devoid of any removable part such as a closure cap or plug which needs to be discarded before performing an injection operation.
The passive integrated safety device may be then placed in three positions:

a pre-use position wherein the outer needle shield and the inner needle shield are extended in order to cover the needle. In this position, the needle is pricked in the distal end of the inner needle shield so that the liquid in the syringe cannot flow outside the syringe;
an injection position wherein the outer needle shield and the inner needle shield are retracted in order to expose the needle. In this position, the inner needle shield is pierced by the needle. The energy storage portion is compressed and stores energy as a spring;
a safety position wherein the outer needle shield and the inner needle shield at least partially extend back in order to cover the needle again. The inner needle shield is configured to push distally the outer needle shield from the injection position to the safety position. In other words, at the end of the injection, the outer needle shield is moved distally from the injection position to the safety position under the bias of the inner needle shield.

Conversely, the outer needle shield is preferably configured to push proximally the inner needle shield from the pre-use position to the injection position. In other words, the inner needle shield is retracted from the pre-use position to the injection position under the force of the outer needle shield.
The outer needle shield slides along the sleeve and the inner needle shield deforms so that the needle pierces the inner needle shield and extends outside the safety device in order to permit the injection be performed.
Moreover, the inner needle shield forms a permanently attached needle plug, which eliminates a pop-off phenomenon during steam sterilization.
The inner needle shield acts as a spring mechanism, due to its resiliently deformable intermediate portion. As a matter of fact, after injection, as the user withdraws the device from the patient's skin, the inner needle shield expands, releasing the stored energy, which causes the outer needle shield to automatically push forward. This allows the outer needle shield to cover back the needle once the injection operation is completed. Once in safety position, the outer needle shield then protects a user from an accidental needle stick.
As a result, the passive integrated safety device according to the invention uses the inner needle shield both as a sealing component and as a spring mechanism. This provides a compact and easy to manufacture safety device.
In embodiments, the outer needle shield comprises a tubular intermediate portion surrounding the inner needle shield.
As a result, the inner needle shield is protected. Besides, the outer needle shield may be configured to hide the inner needle shield, so that a user is not frightened. For instance, the outer needle shield and more precisely its tubular intermediate portion may be opaque or translucent.
In embodiments, the outer needle shield comprises a distal end configured to exert a proximal pressure on the distal portion of the inner needle shield.
Therefore, a proximal movement of the outer needle shield entails a proximal movement of the distal portion of the inner needle shield as the passive safety device moves from the pre-use position to the injection position.
In embodiments, the distal end of the outer needle shield has a proximal pushing surface which partially covers a distal face of the distal portion of the inner needle shield.
The outer needle shield therefore exerts an axial pressure on the inner needle shield when moved proximally. An axial pressure exerted on the distal portion of the inner needle shield by the outer needle shield provides a more efficient piercing of said distal portion by the needle without coring.
In embodiments, the distal end of the outer needle shield defines an opening configured to allow passage of the needle after the needle pierces the distal portion of the inner needle shield.
This provides an equally distributed pressure around the opening and around the part of the distal portion which is going to be pierced by the needle. As a result, a coring effect is prevented.
In embodiments, the distal end of the outer needle shield leans against the distal portion of the inner needle shield.
This may at least occur when the passive safety device is in the pre-use position. As a result, deformation of the inner needle shield is immediate from the moment that the outer needle shield begins to slide proximally . The spring effect provided by the deformation of the inner needle shield is thus immediately generated. This provides a safer safety device. The distal end of the outer needle shield preferably permanently contacts the distal portion of the inner needle shield.
In embodiments, in the safety position, the energy storage portion remains in an energy releasing state.
In embodiments, the inner needle shield comprises a distal pushing surface configured to exert a distal pressure on the outer needle shield in order to provide a safer deployment of the outer needle shield from the injection position to the safety position.
In the safety position, a distal end of the inner and outer needle shields preferably extend distally beyond a distal end of the needle. In the safety position, the needle is preferably contained within the distal portion of the inner needle shield.
In embodiments, the sleeve comprises guiding means configured to guide the movement of the outer needle shield along the sleeve. The guiding means may be configured to guide the outer needle shield firstly from the pre-use position to the injection position and secondly from the injection position to said safety position. The guiding means may comprise a guiding slot, for example provided on the sleeve, and a guiding pin, for example secured to the outer needle shield. The guiding pin is configured to slide inside the guiding slot. The slot may comprise a first straight track, having a distal end and a proximal end, and a second track extending obliquely relative to said first track. The second track may have a proximal end leading into said first track and a distal end opposite said proximal end. In the pre-use position, the guiding pin may be in the distal end of said second track. In the injection position, the guiding pin may be in the proximal end of said first track. In the safety position, the guiding pin may be in the distal end of said first track.
In embodiments, the safety device comprises maintaining means configured to maintain the outer needle shield in the pre-use position until a predetermined proximal force is exerted on the outer needle shield.
As a result, the outer needle shield does not inadvertently leave the pre-use position and the needle therefore cannot inadvertently pierce the inner needle shield. This helps keeping the needle sealed inside the distal portion of the inner needle shield until an injection process begins.
For example, said maintaining means may comprise a slope surface configured to resist a movement of the outer needle shield from the pre-use to the injection position as long as a sufficient force is not applied to the outer needle shield and to let the outer needle shield go by when the force applied to the outer needle shield exceeds a predetermined threshold. This slope member may be located in the distal end of the second track.
In embodiments, the safety device comprises anti-return means configured to prevent the outer needle shield to move back to the pre-use position after the outer needle shield leaves the pre-use position.
This makes sure that the outer needle shield is reliably moved towards the safety position so as to reliably prevent needle stick injuries.
For example, the anti-return means may comprise the above mentioned second track which is oblique relative to the first track which extends in the longitudinal direction of the safety device. The anti-return means may also comprise an abutment surface configured to prevent return of the guiding pin in the distal end of the second track. The abutment surface may be proximally adjacent to the slope surface. The slope surface and the abutment surface may thus be two different surfaces of a ratchet element.
The locking means may comprise a ratchet element which may be located at a distal end of the first track. This ratchet element comprises a distal abutment surface which prevents the guiding pin from leaving the distal end of the first track. The ratchet element may comprise a proximal slope surface which is configured to help the guiding go by the ratchet element and reach the distal end of the first track. The slope surface may be adjacent to the abutment surface.
The inner needle shield is preferably made of a resiliently deformable material. This resiliently deformable material is able to partially or totally recover its initial shape after having been deformed. This resiliently deformable material may be coated or not. This resiliently deformable material preferably presents a shore A hardness between 10 and 60, and more preferably between 30 and 60.
The inner needle shield is preferably made of rubber. This rubber may be coated or not. This rubber preferably presents a having a shore A hardness between 10 and 60 and more preferably between 30 and 60.
The energy storage portion may be made of any material of the group comprising rubber, silicone or TPE material or a combination thereof.
In embodiments, the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield is axially compressible.
As a result, deformation of the inner needle shield does not entail a radial extension of the safety device.
The energy storage portion is configured to surround the needle.
In embodiments, the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield is configured to form at least one fold when the distal portion is moved proximally.
The energy storage portion is preferably accordion-shaped when compressed. Having an energy storage portion which forms at least one fold when compressed, or which is configured to fold-up in an concertinaed manner, enables to improve compactness of the passive safety device in the injection position.
In embodiments, the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield is tubular and defines an internal cavity.
This provides a compact safety device.
In embodiments, the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield comprises folding slots configured to give the energy storage portion an accordion shape when being deformed.
This helps the energy storage portion to fold-up like an accordion and thus remain compact when being deformed. The height of these folds may preferably be defined so that the deformed intermediate portion does not contact the needle.
The distal portion of the inner needle shield may have a length comprised between 3 and 12 mm.
This limits the risk of coring as the needle pierces the distal portion during the injection process.
In embodiments, the distal portion of the inner needle shield comprises a resiliently deformable material.
In embodiments, the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield comprises a resiliently deformable material.
In embodiments, the distal portion of the inner needle shield comprises a material whose hardness is comprised between 30 and 70 shore A and more preferably between 30 and 60 shore A. This makes it easier for the needle to pierce said distal portion while avoiding a coring effect.
In embodiments, the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield comprises a material whose hardness is comprised between 10 and 60 shore A and more preferably between 30 and 60 shore A.
In embodiments, the sleeve comprises a proximal part configured to extend around the distal tip of an injection device, and a distal part configured to distally extend beyond said distal tip, said distal part defining a lateral containment wall surrounding at least a part of the energy storage portion of the inner needle shield.
This forces said energy storage portion to deform inwardly.
In embodiments, the sleeve is fixed relative to the inner needle shield. This provides a reliable safety device. For example, the sleeve may be glued, clipped or may be fixed due to friction forces on the inner needle shield.
In embodiments, the inner needle shield comprises a material which is permeable to a sterilization gas.
This allows sterilization while the safety device is mounted on the distal tip of an injection device, thus avoiding a pop-off effect. To that end, the inner needle shield may preferably comprise a rubber material.
In embodiments, the outer needle shield is permeable to a sterilization gas.
In embodiments, the inner needle shield is soft in order to be pierced by the needle and in order to resiliently deform, while the outer needle shield is rigid in order to press and protect the inner needle shield.
The inner needle shield can be made of a material or of a combinaition of materials of the group comprising rubber, silicone and TPE materials.
In embodiments, the outer needle shield comprises a plastic material.
The outer needle shield can be made of a material or of a combinaition of material of the group comprising rubber, silicone and TPE materials.
In embodiments, the sleeve comprises a plastic material.
Another aspect of the invention is an injection device comprising a barrel, a distal tip, a needle supported by said distal tip and the above-described passive safety device mounted onto the distal tip.
The injection device may be a prefilled syringe.
In embodiments, the proximal end of the inner needle shield is sealed to the distal tip of the barrel.
As a result, the inner needle shield, which acts as a spring mechanism, also acts as a sealing element so as to keep the injection device be sterilized.
In embodiments, the inner needle shield is sealed on the distal tip by gluing and/or by clamping.
For example, the inner needle shield is sealed on the distal tip by using the sleeve in order to clamp the inner needle shield against the distal tip. Therefore, the sleeve may be configured to surround and clamp the proximal end of the inner needle shield around the distal tip of the barrel.
As a result, the sleeve compresses the distal end of the inner needle shield over the distal tip of the barrel and therefore provides a tight seal around said distal tip. For example, the sleeve may have an internal diameter which is lower than an external diameter of the inner needle shield.
This length may be preferably equal to or greater than the distance between a distal end of the needle and a distal face of the distal portion. In other words, in the pre-use position, the distance between a distal end of the needle and a distal surface of the distal portion of the inner needle shield is less than 10 mm.
As a result, the distance that the needle needs to cover so as to pierce the distal portion remains low, which limits coring. In the pre use position, the needle is partially inserted in the distal portion of the inner needle shield such that a first part of the distal portion of the inner needle shield is pierced by the needle while a second part of the distal portion of the inner needle shield is not yet pierced by the needle, said second part having a thickness comprised between 0.4 mm and 3 mm.ln embodiments, the injection device comprises retaining means configured to prevent withdrawal of the safety device from the distal tip of the barrel.
This provides a safer injection device.
The invention and the advantages arising therefrom will clearly emerge from the detailed description that is given below with reference to the appended drawings as follows:

Figures 1A to 1C are cross section views of a safety device according an embodiment of the invention, in different positions,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of a safety device according an embodiment of the invention,
Figures 3A to 3D are perspective views of an injection device according to an embodiment of the invention, during different steps of an injection process.

With reference toFigures 1A to 1C is shown asafety device 1 of the invention. Thesafety device 1 is intended to be mounted on adistal tip 102 of abarrel 104 of asyringe 106 so as to surround aneedle 108 extending from saiddistal tip 102. Thesafety device 1 is aimed at maintaining sterility of theneedle 108 and preventing leakage from theneedle 108 in a pre-use condition, allowing insertion of theneedle 108 into an injection site during an injection operation, and preventing a needle stick injury in a post-use condition where the injection operation is completed.
In this application, by "passive safety device" it is meant a needle safety device which does not require the user to undertake any action after injection so as to make the needle be protected after removal of the needle from an injection site.
In this application, by "integrated safety device" it is meant a safety device which does not comprise any component which needs to be discarded in order to enable the user to perform an injection operation.
The passiveintegrated safety device 1 comprises asleeve 2, a softinner needle shield 4 and a rigidouter needle shield 6.. Thepassive safety device 1 may be moved into three positions: a pre-use position (Figure 1A) wherein theouter needle shield 6 is in its most distal position relative to thesleeve 4, an injection position (Figure 1B) wherein theouter needle shield 6 is in its most proximal position relative to thesleeve 2, and a safety position (Figure 1C) wherein theouter needle shield 6 is distally located away from the injection position.
Thepassive safety device 1 also comprises locking means configured to lock the rigidouter needle shield 6 in the safety position (Figure 1C). The safety position may correspond to the pre-use position or preferably to an intermediate position located between the pre-use and injection positions. The locking means will be described in further details later.
Theouter needle shield 6 has aproximal end 60, adistal end 62 opposite saidproximal end 60, and anintermediate portion 64.
Theinner needle shield 4 has aproximal end 40, adistal portion 42 opposite saiddistal end 40, and an intermediate energy storageintermediate portion 44 connecting theproximal end 40 and thedistal portion 42.
Theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 is configured to be tightly sealed onto thedistal tip 102 of thesyringe 106, so as to maintain sterility of theneedle 108 in a pre-use condition. Theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 may be sealed on thedistal tip 102 by gluing. Theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 may also be sealed on thedistal tip 102 by clamping, for example by using thesleeve 2 in order to compress theinner needle shield 4 against thedistal tip 102. Theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 may be made of a resiliently deformable, such as rubber, so as to provide a tight seal around saiddistal tip 102.
Besides, thesleeve 2 may have an internal diameter which is lower than an external diameter of theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 so that theinner needle shield 4 is secured to thesleeve 4 when thesleeve 2 is mounted around theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4.
Thedistal tip 102 of thesyringe 106 may comprise agroove 110 or a proximally directedabutment surface 112, while theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 may comprise a complementarily shapedprotrusion 400 or distally directed abutment surface 402. Thegroove 110, abutment surfaces 112, 402 and/or theprotrusion 400 thus form retaining means configured to prevent accidental withdrawal of thesafety device 1 from thedistal tip 102.
Thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is configured to be pricked by a distal end of theneedle 108 in the pre-use position in order to prevent drug leakage through theneedle 108, and then be pierced by theneedle 108 when an injection position is performed. Thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is thus movable relative to theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 between a pre-use position (Figure 1A), wherein thedistal portion 42 may be at its most distal position from theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 and is intended to be just pricked by theneedle 108, and an injection position (Figure 1B), wherein the thedistal portion 42 may be at its most proximal position from theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 and is intended to be totally pierced by theneedle 108. Besides, thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 may be movable to a safety position (Figure 1C), which may correspond to the pre-use position or which may be an intermediate position between the pre-use position and the injection position, wherein thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is configured to distally extend beyond a distal end of theneedle 108 in order to cover back theneedle 108 .
In the safety position, thedistal end 60 of theouter needle shield 6, respectively thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4, preferably extends distally beyond a distal end of theneedle 108. Besides, in the safety position, the distal end of theneedle 108 is preferably contained within thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4.
Thedistal portion 42 of the inner needle shield 4may be formed of a soft material, preferably a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber. The material of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 may preferably have a hardness comprised between 10 and 60 Shore A so as to prevent a coring effect when thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is being pierced by theneedle 108.
The part of thedistal portion 42 which is intended to be pricked by theneedle 108 in a pre-use position may be longerthan that which is intended to be pierced by theneedle 108. Theenergy storage portion 44 may be a tubular, for example cylindrical, portion configured to surround theneedle 108. Accordingly, in a pre-use condition, theinner needle shield 4 defines aninternal cavity 46 wherein theneedle 108 is intended to extend and be kept sterile.
Theenergy storage portion 44 is configured to accumulate energy as thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is being moved from the pre-use position to the injection position. For example, theenergy storage portion 44 may be advantageously resiliently deformable so as to act as a spring which is able to urge distally thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 from the injection position towards the safety position. When thepassive safety device 1 is in the pre-use position, theenergy storage portion 44 is preferably in a rest state (Figure 1A). When thesafety device 1 is in the injection position, theenergy storage portion 44 is preferably axially compressed (Figure 1B). When thepassive safety device 1 is in the safety position, theenergy storage portion 44 is preferably axially extended (Figure 1C). In the safety position, theenergy storage portion 44 may be in the same state as in the pre-use position, for instance not deformed or less deformed than in the injection position.
Theenergy storage portion 44 may thus be made of a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber or rubber or TPE material or a combination thereof.
Theenergy storage portion 44 is preferably configured to be axially compressible, so as to remain as compact as possible while being deformed. As shown onFigure 1B, theenergy storage portion 44 may be configured to form a collapsible accordion. The folds formed by the concertina-like compressedenergy storage portion 44 may extend in theinternal cavity 46 of the tubularinner needle shield 4. Theinternal cavity 46 of theinner needle shield 4 thus also defines an accommodation space wherein the tubularenergy storage portion 44 can collapse.
Theenergy storage portion 44 may be configured not to contact theneedle 108, whatever the deformation of theenergy storage portion 44 is. As a result, theenergy storage portion 44 remains remote from theneedle 108 even in the injection condition.
Theenergy storage portion 44 may comprise folding slots or grooves (not illustrated) extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis A of thesafety device 1 and configured to give the energy storage portion 44 a predetermined wrinkled shape when being deformed. The height of the folds, that is to say the distance between slots or grooves, may preferably be less than half the width of theinternal cavity 46 so that the deformed intermediate portion does not contact theneedle 108
Theinner needle shield 4 is configured to move theouter needle shield 4 from the injection position to the safety position as theenergy storage portion 44 releases its stored energy. To that end, thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 may advantageously comprise a distal pushingsurface 420 configured abut on theouter needle shield 6, more precisely on thedistal end 60 of theouter needle shield 6.
In the safety condition, theenergy storage portion 44 preferably remains in an energy releasing state, that is to say in a deformed state, so as to make the distal pushingsurface 420 exert a distal pressure on theouter needle shield 6.
Theinner needle shield 4 is advantageously made of a material which is permeable to a sterilization gas such as ethylene oxide (EtO). This allows sterilization while thesafety device 1 is already mounted on thedistal tip 102, thus avoiding a pop-off effect. For example, theinner needle shield 4 is made of a rubber material.
Theintermediate portion 64 of theouter needle shield 6 may be tubular, for example cylindrical, so as to surround and thus protect theinner needle shield 4. Theouter needle shield 6 and more precisely theintermediate portion 64 of saidouter needle shield 6 may be opaque or translucent.
Thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6 is configured to exert a proximal pressure on thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4, so that proximal movement of theouter needle shield 6 from the pre-use position to the injection position entails proximal movement of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4, thereby also causing piercing of thisdistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 by theneedle 108 and deformation of theenergy storage portion 44. To that end, thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6 may have a proximal pushingsurface 620 which partially covers a distal face of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4, for example the distal pushingsurface 420. Thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6, especially its proximal pushingsurface 620, may permanently contact a distal face of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4, whatever the position of theouter needle shield 6.
In order to provide a uniform pressure distribution and to allow passage of the needle through thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6, saiddistal end 62 may advantageously define acentral opening 622. Thiscentral opening 622 is dimensioned so as to allow reliable passage of theneedle 108 through thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6.
In order to protect theneedle 108, theouter needle shield 6 is preferably rigid, more precisely more rigid than the softinner needle shield 4. For example, the outer needle shield is made of a plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, POM, PBT, ABS or a combination thereof.
Theproximal end 60 of theouter needle shield 6 is slidably attached to thesleeve 2 so that theouter needle shield 6 is axially movable relative to thesleeve 2, as will be described hereinafter in more details.
Thesafety device 1 may advantageously delimit anaccommodation space 10 between theouter needle shield 6 and theinner needle shield 4 so that any contact and friction between theintermediate portion 64 of theouter needle shield 6 and a lateral wall of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 or theenergy storage portion 44 of theinner needle shield 4 is prevented
Thesleeve 2 is configured to surround at least theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4. Thesleeve 2 may therefore have a tubular shape, for example a cylindrical shape.
Thesleeve 2 may advantageously comprise aproximal part 20 which surrounds theproximal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4. Thesleeve 2 may also comprise adistal part 22 which may be configured to extend beyond thedistal tip 102 of thesyringe 106. Thisdistal part 22 of thesleeve 2 comprises alateral containment wall 220 which surrounds partially theenergy storage portion 44 of theinner needle shield 4 in the pre-use condition, in order to force theenergy storage portion 44 to deform inwardly when thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is being moved to the injection position by theouter needle shield 6.
It is contemplated that thesleeve 2 is fixed relative to theinner needle shield 4. For example, thesleeve 2 may be glued or clipped on theinner needle shield 4. It is also possible that theinner needle shield 4 is friction-fitted inside thesleeve 2.
Thesleeve 2 is preferably made of a plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene or Polycarbonate, POM, PBT, ABS or a combination thereof.
With reference toFigure 2, thesleeve 2 may comprise a guidingslot 24 and theouter needle shield 6 may comprise a guidingpin 66 configured to slide inside the guidingslot 24 in order to guide a sliding movement of theouter needle shield 6 relative to thesleeve 2. This guidingslot 24 and the guidingpin 66 thus form guiding means configured to guide the movement of theouter needle shield 6 along thesleeve 2 between the pre-use position and the injection position.
The guidingslot 24 may comprise a first track 240, said first track 240 having a closeddistal end 240a and a closedproximal end 240b. The guidingslot 24 may also comprise a second track 244 which may have a closeddistal end 244a and an openproximal end 244b leading into said first track 240, for example into an intermediate portion of said first track 240. The first track 240 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the safety device, while the second track 244 at partly extends obliquely relative to the first track 240. In the pre-use position, the guidingpin 66 may be positioned in thedistal end 244a of said second track 244 while in the injection position, the guidingpin 66 may be located in theproximal end 240b of said first track 240. In the safety position of theouter needle shield 6, the guidingpin 66 may be located in thedistal end 240a of said first track 240. As a result, the guiding means are configured to guide theouter needle shield 6 firstly from the pre-use position to the injection position and secondly from the injection position to said safety position.
Thesleeve 2 may comprise adistal slope surface 260 configured to resist a movement of theouter needle shield 6, especially of the guidingpin 66, from the pre-use to the injection position as long as a proximally directed force applied to theouter needle shield 6 remains lower than a predetermined threshold, and to let theouter needle shield 6 leave the pre-use position and move towards the injection position when the force applied to theouter needle shield 6 exceeds said predetermined threshold. Thisslope surface 260 may be located in thedistal end 244a of the second track 244. Thisslope surface 260 and the guidingpin 66 thus form maintaining means configured to maintain theouter needle shield 6 in the pre-use position until a predetermined proximal force is exerted on theouter needle shield 6.
It is contemplated that theslope surface 260 may be part of afirst ratchet element 26. Thisratchet element 26 may also comprise aproximal abutment surface 262 configured to prevent return of the guidingpin 66 in thedistal end 244a of the second track 224. Theabutment surface 262 may be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A of the safety device. The oblique arrangement of the second track 244, and/or theratchet element 26, especially itsabutment surface 262 may form anti-return means configured to prevent theouter needle shield 6 to move back to the pre-use position once theouter needle shield 6 has left this pre-use position.
Thesleeve 2 may comprise asecond ratchet element 28 which may be located at adistal end 240a of the first track 240. Thisratchet element 28 comprises adistal abutment surface 280 which prevent the guidingpin 66 from leaving thedistal end 240a of the first track 240 once the guiding has reached this distal end 240a. said distal abutment surface 280may be orthogonal to a longitudinal axis A of thesafety device 1. Theratchet element 28 may further comprise aproximal slope surface 282 which is configured to help the guidingpin 66 pass by theratchet element 28 and reach thedistal end 240a of the first track 240. Theslope surface 282 may be adjacent to theabutment surface 280. As a result, theratchet element 28, especially itsabutment surface 280, keeps theouter needle shield 6 in the safety position and may thus form the locking means of thesafety device 1.
Thesafety device 1 may preferably comprise abutting means configured to stop the proximal movement of theouter needle shield 6 relative to thesleeve 2 when theouter needle shield 6 reaches the injection position, so that a user knows when a plunger rod of thesyringe 106 may be pushed in order to expel the product contained in thesyringe 106. For example, said abutting means may comprise an abutment surface arranged in thesleeve 2 and against which the outer needle shield abuts when theouter needle shield 6 reaches the injection position. The abutting surface may be an end wall of the first track 240. As a result, theproximal end 240b of said first track 240 may form the abutting means.
The invention also relates to aninjection device 100, such assyringe 106 or advantageously apre-filled syringe 106, comprising abarrel 104 which defines a reservoir configured to contain an injectable product, adistal hub 102, aneedle 108 supported by saiddistal tip 102 and the above described passiveintegrated safety device 1 mounted onto thedistal tip 102. Thedistal tip 102 may be part of the distal end of thebarrel 104 or it may be an element distinct from thebarrel 104 which is fixed and/or connected to the distal end of thebarrel 104, by any classical means, such as gluing, screwing, interlocking... Thedistal end 40 of theinner needle shield 4 is sealed to thedistal tip 102, for example by gluing or by clamping as already mentioned. Thesleeve 2 may be fixed relative to thedistal tip 102, theouter needle shield 6 is able to slide along thesleeve 2, and theinner needle shield 4 is deformable.
Theneedle 108 is pricked inside thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle 4 shield over a length which is comprised between 3 and 12 mm. This length may be preferably equal to or greater than the distance separating a distal end of theneedle 108 and a distal face of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4, that is to say equal or greater than the length of the not yet pierced part of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4.
Operation of the injection device is described below with reference toFigures 3A to 3D.
With reference toFigure 3A, a user may firstly remove asterility label 114 which may be attached to thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6 to indicate that the sterility of theinjection device 1 has been preserved, and that theouter needle shield 6 has not already been partially moved towards the injection position.
With reference toFigure 3B, theinjection device 100 is applied to the injection site, such as a patient's skin. More precisely, adistal face 624 of thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6 is positioned against the injection site. The user then pushes thesyringe 106 towards the injection site with a sufficient force, which entails proximal movement of theouter needle shield 6 from the pre-use position towards the injection position. As a consequence, thedistal end 62 exerts a proximal pressure on thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 whoseenergy storage portion 44 deforms as theouter needle shield 6 is being moved proximally towards the injection position. Meanwhile, theneedle 108 pierces thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 and passes through theopening 622 of theouter needle shield 6, thereby entering the injection site.
With reference toFigure 3C, theouter needle shield 6 has reached the injection position, its proximal movement being stopped by thesleeve 2 so that the user knows theneedle 108 is fully advanced into the injection site. Thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 is in the injection position while theenergy storage portion 44 is compressed and ready to release its stored energy. The user can press aplunger rod 116 of theinjection device 100 so as to expel the product contained in thebarrel 104.
With reference toFigure 3D, the product has been expelled. The user removes theinjection device 100 from the injection site. Theenergy storage portion 44 starts releasing its stored energy, distally urging thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 back towards the safety position. Thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4 thereby pushes thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6 which thus slides back relative to thesleeve 2 from the injection position towards the safety position. Thedistal portion 42 finally covers the distal end of theneedle 108 again and theouter needle shield 6 finally reaches the safety position where it is locked relative to thesleeve 2, thus forming a protective shell surrounding theinner needle shield 4 and the needle 8. The inner andouter needle shields 4, 6 therefore automatically deny access to theneedle 108 and prevent accidental needle stick injuries.
It is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims and is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments and includes any other alternative or equivalent embodiments. For instance, thepassive safety device 1 could be devoid of maintaining means for temporarily maintaining the passive safety device in a pre-use condition. For instance, thedistal end 62 of theouter needle shield 6 could have no proximal pushingsurface 620, a lateral wall of theouter needle shield 6 being instead glued or secured to a lateral wall of thedistal portion 42 of theinner needle shield 4.

Claims

A passive safety device (1) comprising:
an inner needle shield (4) having a proximal end (40), said proximal end (40) being configured to be sealed to a tip (102) of an injection device (100), and an energy storage portion (44) configured to accumulate energy as the passive safety device (1) passes from the pre-use position to the injection position and to release energy as the passive safety device (1) passes from the injection position to a safety position,
a sleeve (2) surrounding at least the proximal end (40) of the inner needle shield (4),
an outer needle shield (6) having a proximal end (62) slidably attached to the sleeve (2) so that the outer needle shield (6) is movable relative to the sleeve (2),
locking means configured to lock the outer needle shield (6) when the passive needle shield reaches the safety position, and
wherein the inner needle shield (4) is configured to move the outer needle shield (6) distally as the energy storage portion (44) releases its stored energy;
characterized in that the needle shield has a distal portion (42), said distal portion (42) being configured to be pricked by a needle (108) in a pre-use position of the passive safety device (1) and pierced by the needle (108) in an injection position of the passive safety device (1).
The passive safety device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the outer needle shield (6) comprises a tubular intermediate portion (64) surrounding the inner needle shield (4).
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer needle shield (6) comprises a distal end (60) configured to exert a proximal pressure on the distal portion (42) of the inner needle shield (4).
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end (62) of the outer needle shield (6) defines an opening (622) configured to allow passage of the needle (108) after the needle (108) pierces the distal portion (42) of the inner needle shield (4).
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end (62) of the outer needle shield (6) leans against the distal portion (42) of the inner needle shield (4).
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner needle shield (4) comprises a resiliently deformable material.
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner needle shield (4) comprises a material whose hardness is comprised between 10 and 70 shore A, and preferably between 30 and 60 shore A.
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner needle shield (4) comprises rubber.
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage portion (44) of the inner needle shield (4) is axially compressible.
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage portion (44) of the inner needle shield (4) is configured to form at least one fold when the distal portion (42) is moved proximally.
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage portion (44) of the inner needle shield (4) is tubular and defines an internal cavity (46).
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner needle shield (4) is permeable to a sterilization gas.
The passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer needle shield (6) is permeable to a sterilization gas.
An injection device (100) comprising a barrel (104), a distal tip (102), a needle (108) supported by said distal tip (102) and a passive safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims mounted onto the distal tip.
The injection device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the proximal end (40) of the inner needle shield (4) is sealed to the distal tip (102) of the barrel (104).